Flumist for 2 and 3-Year-old?

All 3 of my kids got hte mist this year because that is all they had--I was nervous but my dr. said the only side effect is they might get a slight sore throat a few days later but nothing happened to them!

The flumist is not recommended for young children. I would advise against it.

Good luck.

My kids, nearly 6 and nearly 3, have both gotten the flumist as soon as they were old enough. My nearly-3-yr old didn't like the sensation, but neither kid has had any ill effects from it. I am comforted that vaccines are available to my kids and I am a proponent of them. I will get the h1n1 in flumist version if that is available also. The only caveat is that kids who wheeze can't get the mist. Also if your kids are allergic to eggs I don't think they can get ANY flu vaccines.

Flumist is a live virus, so it is possible to have flu symptoms since they are actually giving you a weakened version of the flu virus. I personally would not give myself (as much as I hate shots!) or my kids a live virus. I took the flu shot this year which I normally don't worry about. If your doctors office doesn't have it call your local health dept or many places are giving them including Walgreens. Although you would have to check w/ Walgreens I don't know if they vaccinate children.

My 2 year old daughter had it in September. She had a little diarrhea from it (I assume), but that was the only noticeable side effect. She preferred it to an injection. Good luck with your decision.

I just asked a doctor yesterday about the H1N1 vaccine and mist and he said he recommended the shot, but would NOT give his own kids the mist as it contains the live virus and there's too many risks involved.

My daughter loved it and was so happy that she didn't have to get a shot. Although my daughter is 4, my son is almost 2 and I don't think they would have been able to hold him down and get him to breathe it in. I think under 3 is a little too young for the mist. I am surprised they offered it for such a young age.

J.,

My son got the Flu Mist last year at 3 and again this year at 4 yrs old. It is a deadened live vaccine vs a dead vaccine like the shots. My son tolerated it fine both times--last year his throat was a bit scratchy later that day.

I read up on it and it is as effective or perhaps more than the shot. Plus, he doesn't like shots so it was worth it.

The only concern is whether your children are by anybody with a weakened immune system for the first 3-5 days so my son stayed away from his friend with asthma.

A.

A little about me: work from home office mom with a 4 yr old son and a 11 mo old daughter

My kids started getting flumist as soon as they were old enough. They don't like the way it feels - they say it burns in their nose - but no side effects.

I wish I had read your responses before I went to the dr. last week with my almost- 3 year old son. I thought he was getting a flu shot but when we were there, they said they only had the flu mist. I didn't know what to do - I just said, "oh, he's old enough for that?" and I let them do it. He was fine. He developed a fever 2 days later and seemed a little out of sorts and cranky for 2 days - but other than that was fine.

My son got it when he was just over three. His nose gushed from the minute he got the shot for about 7 days. He didn't act sick or feel sick but he was very uncomfortable with the runny nose. If I have a choice next time I will go for the shot.

Good luck!

My 7 and 11yr old kids had the Flumist. My 11yr old complained of a slight headache afterwards, but that was it.

We usually do the shots, but they only had flumist left, and I took would I could get.